PETER RUICCI, QMI Agency

But no matter what happens here, the 2010 Scotties in Sault Ste. Marie will be her most memorable.

That's because the 45-year-old Cormier is joined on the Yukon/Northwest Territories rink by her daughter, 20-year-old Megan Cormier, who's playing second.

"It's unbelievable. I never could have imagined this happening," said Sharon, who's skipping a Scotties entry for the first time ever.

Previously, she played third on three occasions and was the second on two other territorial women's championship rinks.

"It took some convincing for Megan to curl with me," added Cormier, whose Yellowknife Curling Club team also includes lead Danielle Ellis and third Tara Naugler. "She was eligible for one more year as a junior."

However, Megan was unable to put a junior team together.

It turned out to be a stroke of luck -- for both mother and daughter.

"I know Megan is thrilled to be going to the Scotties," Sharon said. "She's very excited. And I can't wait to be close to her as she reacts to the whole Scotties experience."

Sharon Cormier and Naugler have played "on and off," the skip said, since 2003.

Ellis joins Megan Cormier as a first-time team member.

Asked if she'll feel more pressure in her first Scotties appearance as a skip, Cormier answered in the negative.

The 33-year veteran of the sport knows she'll carry more responsibility into this year's event, which begins Saturday at the Essar Centre. But the rink is relaxed and plans a one-shot-at-a-time and one-game-at-a-time approach.

"We expect to be fairly competitive," said Cormier, who knocked off six-time defending champion Kerry Galusha 10-4 in the territorial semifinals, before eliminating Leslie Grant 8-5 in the final.

The Cormier rink began the round-robin portion of that event with an 0-3 record, before winning five straight, do-or-die games.

Having not played on the Canadian stage since 2003 in Kitchener, Cormier admitted she's been going through what so many curlers do: Wondering if they'll ever get back to a national championship.

For that reason, she and her teammates plan to enjoy every minute.

"We'll soak everything in and enjoy the experience," she said. "And while we plan to take one game at a time, our goal is to earn a spot in a (playoff) tiebreaker."